Page 97 of In The Dark

A throat suddenly clears at the top of the stairwell, and we turn to find Ren as he glances between the two of us. A flicker of shock crosses his features before he masks it, and I step away from Rydian.

“Bess is here, and Ivy has the waking serum. She’s woken the boy and is talking to him,” Ren says.

I nod, watching as Rydian makes his way down the stairs after giving a light squeeze to my hand. But Ren silently eyes me from where he’s standing.

“You really don’t remember anything?” he asks quietly.

I shake my head. “I’m hoping to get some of it back though. We were friends?” I ask finally, still shocked at the two of us ever being close. It’s created an awkward tension around us, unsure how to behave around the other.

“We were…” He trails off, looking as if he’s running through his memories before pulling his gaze back to me with a pinch to his brow. He scratches the back of his head. “As close as you and Ezra.”

I hum, letting it soak in, when a thought crosses my mind. “If we were as close as you say we were, why did you always act like you hated me?”

His hands go in his pockets as he studies me, a small smirk forming on his lips, but the way he does it has my heart stopping. It’s… charming. “It was the only way I knew you wouldn’t be able to forget me, especially if you were angry.”

I blink, registering his words. “You’re the worst, you know that?” I mumble, but all this time he just wanted me to remember our friendship. “But I’m sorry.”

I’m suddenly at a loss for words because whatcanI say? I had no control over my memories being stolen, but I can’t help but feel utterly guilty over a lost friendship I knew nothing about. Wouldn’t he at least try to help me remember?

“It was never your fault—don’t apologize,” he says and turns for the stairs, preventing me from asking.

I collect myself and follow, spotting Bess by the fire with a glass of whiskey. The sight of her has me catching my breath, though my feelings for her are nothing more than that of a close friend.

“Bess.” I grin as she turns to me. Her hair spills over her shoulder, and she throws me a friendly smirk with a kiss to my cheek.

“Isa, darling. How are you and how is your male friend?” she asks quietly—about Rydian. And just like that, we’re old friends again.

I snort. “Maybe later, when there aren’t prying male ears.”

“It was good.” Her mouth falls open, a devious grin tugging at her lips.

“Stop.” I chuckle quietly, throwing a glance over my shoulder at the others lost in conversation. “I missed you. I had no idea who you were all these years—I just wish you would have told me.”

“I know, me too. But I want you to know that I still care for you deeply,” she says.

“You know, I was worried you were angry with me when I showed up here.”

She gives me a soft, knowing smile. “I admit, I was at first. When Rydian asked for my help, he discussed what you were doing for the king… I just didn’t know that it wasyouin the castle. It took me by surprise. But I know that everything King Elion had you doing in the brotherhood wasn’t your fault. What he does still angers me, but you didn’t have a choice—not really.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

She chuckles, tucking her hair behind an ear. “Because I knew that what I was dealing with didn’t have anything to do with you. King Elion is controlling and will find any way to exploit you. If he found out who I was, he’d raid my entire brothel just to kill me. But it wouldn’t be only me, it would beevery one of my willing courtesans. I offer a lot of them safety—jobs where they wouldn’t be able to work otherwise.” She looks down to her glass.

“He would do that?” I ask.

She lifts her chin. “He would, and he wouldn’t hesitate. You know firsthand how cruel he is, but I hope this doesn’t change anything between us.” And then she pauses, opening her mouth as if calculating her next words. “King Rydian is a good king, Isa. What he’s done for Aurelia is… well, I can’t really put it into words.”

“I know,” I reply as Rydian’s eyes meet mine from over my shoulder, then face her again. “And it doesn’t—change anything between us, I mean. I swear. Do you want more whiskey?”

She nods, but before I can refill our glasses, Ivy steps out, her gaze meeting mine from across the room. I quickly break away when she motions me over.

“He’s scared, so take your time. But he’s agreed to let you use your ability to see into his mind,” Ivy says.

I nod, entering to find him huddled in the corner of his bed, scared half to death. Despite the warm air in the room, he shivers.

“It’s okay, Theo. I promise I won’t hurt you. I just want to see why the king would want to take you from your parents. Is it okay to touch you?” I ask.

He chews on his lip, hazel eyes scanning me for a solid minute before finally giving me a small nod. As I sit at the edge of the bed, he whispers in a small voice, “Will it hurt?”